Bottle-stopper for automatically measuring and delivering liquid.



T. R. TOGNA. BOTTLE STOPPER FOR AUTOMATICALLY MEASURING AND DELIVERINGLIQUID. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1010.

1,036,381. Patented Aug. 20,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

. Tpvcntor Wfinegses. Tunflo Rmton To nq T. R. TOGNA. BOTTLE STOPPER FORAUTOMATICALLY MEASURING AND DELIVERING LIQUID.

AP PLIGATION FILED JAN. 28, 1910vv Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Inventor- Tu M1110 Ristofb Togn i A to ex Wttness'es. M K (52% 5A4TURILLO RISTORI TOGNA, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BOTTLE-STOPPER FOR AUTOMATICALLY MEASURING AND DELIVERING LIQUID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application filed January 28, 1910. Serial No. 540,709.

To aZZ whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, TURILLO Rls'ronr Teena, a subject of the King ofItaly, residing at London, in the county of London, England, haveinvented a new and useful Bottle-Stopper for Automatically Measuring andDelivering Liquid, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of hottle attachments by whichfluid poured from a bottle is delivered in predetermined quantities andthe number of said separate quantities registered upon a suitable dialor the like. Such devices as before referred to have heretofore beenproposed, but none of those of which I am aware attain the objectshereinafter set forth as accomplished by my invention.

This invention consists in and has for its object the provision of adevice of simple, neat and eilicacious construction which will measurepredetermined quantities of fluid discharged from any ordinary bottle insuch manner that, notwithstanding that the bottle is of thenon-refillable type when combined with my device, it can be refilled andused continuously for the same purpose and with the same device; whichwill also simultaneously record the quantities discharged from anordinary bottle; and, moreover, effeet the operation automatically. Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a section taken vertically through ameasuring device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa plan showing the upper end. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line maof Fig. 1. Fig. 4 illustrates the automatic action of the device duringthe act of pouring. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3, illustratingaslight modification. Fig. 6 illustrates the method of attaching thedevice to a bottle of conventional shape and kind. Fig. 7 illustrates analternative method of attaching the device to a bottle. Fig. 8illustrates details.

The invention comprises a tubular part 1 of a diameter suitable forinsertion into the smaller part of a bottle neck 3, of the smallestbottle commonly used for wines and spirits. The part 1 has in it asuitable number of equidistantly placed apertures 5. At the upper end ofthe part 1, and formed integral therewith, or attached thereto byscrewthreads or other means, is a flange or disk 6. A casing 7, whichmay be of ornamental configuration or have its surface ornamented, isattached to the flange 6 by screwthreads 8, the flange abutting againstan interiorly projecting flange 9. Other means of attachment, such assoldering, may, however, be employed. The casing has its upper endclosed with the exception of an aperture 10, around the edge of which isan inturned flange 10.

A tubular part 4 is slidably fitted within the part 1, and is closed atits lower end by a diskor the like, to which is attached a weight 11.The capacity of the part 4 is such as to contain a predeterminedquantity of fluid. Near its upper end the part 4 is closed by a disk orthe like 12. Between the closed lower end of the part 4 and the disk orthe like 12 are spaced apertures 13, 13 and 13", the apertures 13corresponding to the apertures 5 in the part 1. Slots 13 may be made inthe part 4, for lightness, to provide increased capacity, and tofacilitate the entry of liquid into the lower end of the part 4. Abovethe closure 12 the part 4 has slots 14, 15, and is closed by a screw-cap16. A small incaseinent 17 projects from the side of the part 4 and ispreferably closed at its upper end by a projecting portion 18 of the cap16. The cap has an aperture 19 for a purpose hereinafter mentioned.

In the upper end of the part 4 is pivoted for rotation a wheel 20 havinga series of numerals around its peripheral surface and on one side ofwhich, and revoluble therewith, is a ratchet 21. On one side of theratchet, and projecting through the slot 15 into engagement with theratchet teeth, is apawl 22. The pawl may be held in position by abracket 23 which depends from the top of the casing 7, or it may beother wise secured in place. On the other side of the ratchet is a pawl24 having its extremity hooked to engage the ratchet teeth, as shown.This pawl may be retained in position by any suitable means, but I haveillustrated it as having one end clamped within the incasement 17 andbetween spacing pieces 25, by a screw 26 in such manner that it canproject through the slot 14, into engagement with the ratchet teeth.

In Fig. 5 a slight modification of the registering mechanism is shown,wherein the wheel 20 is of suflicient width to accommodate two rows ofnumerals, and it has a ratchet 21 on both sides. By placing the numeralson one row intermittently of those in the other row I am enabled toinscribe a large number of them on a wheel of small circumference, andto avoid correspondingly increasing the number and consequentlydecreasing the size of the teeth on the ratchet (which would render themliable to become ineffective at times) I employ two ratchets with teethset intermittently. The pawls 29 and E i are each provided with twotongues to engage the respective ratchets. This mechanism is not new,and T do not claim it exclusively, but only J applieo to and incombination with my measuring device. it. stop, which may be any desiredconstruction, is provided. in the present instance it is illustrated asconsisting of a stem 50 rotativcly mounted in a boss 51 on the tubularpart 1, having an angularly shaped key-hole 52, and aneccentric 50 atits inner end. Secured in the disk 12 is tubular guide 58 for a stemwhich rests upon the periphery of the eccentric, and can thereby beraised into position to be engaged by a pin projecting from the face ofthe wheel 20. Movement of the part 4t is not prevented by the stem 50,because it projects through one of the slots 13.

One form 01" the means for attaching the device to a bottle consists oftwo strips of metal 27, 28, which are secured by any suitable means tothe outer surface of the cas ing 7. t l 29, of flexible metal, having itsand W its extremities bent outward and perforated to form a pair ofeyes 30, is attached to or formed integral with the metal strip 27. Theother strip, 28, has hinged to it at 31 a hasp 32 adapted to pass overthe eyes 30 and hold them together after the band has been sprung aroundthe neck of the bottle below the shoulder 33 which is formed on bottlesof the kind customarily used. A rubber or other resilient washer ispassed over the tubular part 1 into contiguity with the flange 6, sothat when said part is insert ed into the neck of the bottle, the washerwill be compressed between said flange and the mouth of the bottle whenthe hasp is brought down into position to pass over the eyes 30.

A padlock or other device 35 serves to prevent unauthorized removal ofthe device. If desired, the strip of metal 27 may form part of, or besecured to, a band 36 (indicated by roken lines) to which the hasp 32 ishinged, as at 31; the band being secured to the casing 7 by soldering,screws, or other means.

Alternative means of attachment consists of a disk 37 to which isriveted or otherwise secured a pair of spring arms 38 having curved ends89. The disk has screw-threads 40 on its edge. The rubber or like washer34.- having been placed upon the edge of the mouth of the bottle thearms 38 are passed through the washer and into the bottle neck.

The part 1 of the measuring device is then passed through the disk 37and between the spring arms 88, the parts 39 of which are therebypressed outward from the position indicated at- 41 into the positionshown at 32 in the wider part d3 of the bottle neck. The disk 37 h hadthe depending internally screw-threaded part as of the casing 7 adjustedover it, and the arms 38 being in distended position too far apart to bedrawn through the narrower part of the openl of the bottle neck, themeasuring device is thus secured to the bottle.

in order to pr of the casing 7 ti om the disk 87 I catch of suitableconstruction. In the present instance it is shown as consisting of astem 56, 'evolubly fitting in aboss 57 provent unauthorized removal:

provide a jecting from the interior of the casing 7,"-

and having an angularly shaped keyhole 5S and an outwardly anddownwardly projecting arm 59. By means of a key the stem 56 can beturned into such position that the arm 59 will enter correspondingapertures 60, 61, respectively, in the disk 6 and disk 37.

A pair of rings l5 may be secured to the casing 7 to facilitate removalof the device from the bottle, to suspend it when out of use, or for thepurpose of ornament.

The measuring device having been attached to a bottle containing liquid,in either ot the ways described, and zero on the wheel being visiblethrough the aperture 19, the parts will be in the position shownin 1,the apertures and 13 being coincident. When, however, the bottle ispartly inverted as in the act of pouring liquid therefrom, liquid willHow quickly into the HQCS of the bottle and fill the interior of thetuluilar part 4; during the initial part of the movement. The weight 11then coming into a more vertical position will cause a rapid slidingmovement of the part i thus closing the apertures and by bringing themout of coincidence. The liquid within the part t will then flow outthrough the apertures 13 and 10, the incasement 17 having been movedbeyond the opening 10 by the latter part of the movement. llhen thebottle is returned to upright position the part l: will fall by gravityinto its initial position and, the pawl 22, coming into contact with theratchet 21, the latter will be revolved stage equal to the distancebetween two teeth, thereby turning the wheel 20 into position to renderthe numeral 1 visible through the opening 19. Reverse movement of thewheel 20 prevented by the pawl 94.. The flange 10, providing acomparatively large surface between the parts 17 and 7 serves to preventliquid from leaking through the opening 10 before the bottle beeninclined sufficiently to cause the incasement 17 to entirelv leave saidopening by which time the ratchet will have moved the required distanceabove the pawl 22 to be operated thereby when resuming normal position.When the total number of measured quantities indicated by the numeralson the wheel 20 have been poured out, the pin will be in contact withthe stem 54 of the stop and further rotation of the wheel 20 will beprevented. The stop is for the purpose of preventing one or morequantities being taken from the bottle and the wheel being subsequentlyrotated in any unauthorized manner until it again shows a numeralindicating a less number of measured quantities than those actuallypoured from the bottle.

From the foregoing it will be understood that I have provided a devicewhich not only fulfils the objects hereinbetore mentioned, but whichwill be found particularly useful in restaurants where time saving is anecessity; the device enabling the attendant to present the bottle tocustomers and from which they can help themselves without instructionsas to the method of using it. This method has generally been foundpleasing to the customer while saving time and attording a check on theamount of wine or liquor consumed.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, meansfor securing the same to the neck of a bottle, said casing beingprovided with an opening adapted to permit the passage of the liquid, atube secured to the casing and adapted to extend within the neck of thebottle, said tube being provided with apertures, a second tube slidinglymounted within said first tube, said second tube having a closed lowerend and being provided with apertures adapted to register with theapertures in said first tube when the device is in its normal oroperative position and adapted to be moved out of registry with theapertures in said first. tube when the device is in its alternate orinverted position, said sliding tube being provided with an openingadapted to permit the liquid to flow from the tube into the casing whenthe device is in its inverted position, and means actuated by themovement of the sliding tube to register the number of its movements.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, meansfor securing the same to the neck of a bottle, said casing beingprovided with an opening adapted to permit the passage of the liquid, atube secured to the casing and adapted to extend within the neck of thebottle, said tube be ing provided with apertures, a second tubeslidingly mounted within said first tube, said second tube having aclosed lower end and being provided with apertures adapted to registerwith the apertures in said first tube when the device is in its normalor operative position and adapted to be moved out of registry with theapertures in said first tube when the device is in its alternate orinverted position, said sliding tube being provided with an 'openingadapted to permit the liquid to flow from the tube into the casing whenthe device is in its inverted position, and means actuated by themovement of the sliding tube as it passes from its alternate position toits normal position to register the number of its movements.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, meansfor securing the same to the neck of a bottle, said casing beingprovided with an opening adapted to permit the passage of the liquid, atube secured to the casing and adapted to extend within the neck of thebottle, said tube being provided with apertures, a second tube slidinglymounted within said first tube, said second tube having a closed lowerend and being provided with apertures adapted to register with theapertures in said first tube when the device is in its normal oroperative position and adapted to be moved out of registry with theapertures in said first tube when the device is in its alternate orinverted position, said sliding tube being provided with an openingadapted to permit the liquid to flow from the tube into the easing whenthe device is in its inverted position, registering means carried bysaid sliding tube, and means for actuating said registering means assaid sliding tube moves from one of its positions to the other of itspositions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

TURILLO RISTOR'I TOGNA.

lVitnesses GINO Corsnvr,

Lonnnzo MAURICE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cent: each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G.

